Report and pics of Reading 3 Wolves 3

To have gained a point from this encounter was perhaps beyond even the most optimistic Wolves fan at half-time.

And to have been involved in a six-goal thriller and come within six minutes of an unlikely win looked the last thing on the cards, after an awful first-half performance from Kenny Jackett's side.

But it shows all those cliche-ridden qualities such as resilience and character of the players/

They were firstly able to claw themselves back into it, and then to give themselves the chance of winning it to achieve their third successive away draw.

And to have finished so strongly augurs well as they prepare for two home games this week.

That they scored three goals without Nouha Dicko was a surprise in itself after they looked toothless for the first 50 minutes.

But as they showed on countless occasions in League One last season, this isn't a Wolves side that relies on one man for goals.

Jackett told us in the week leading up to the game that several players were ready to start finding the net.

And what better day could James Henry have for his Reading return than to equalise?

Or Lee Evans, who has threatened so much recently, to follow him in opening his account for the season? Wolves had a glorious chance to open the scoring after five minutes.

Leon Clarke, who was selected ahead of Liam McAlinden for the lone striker role, put George Saville through on goal.

But with only the goalkeeper to beat, the midfielder's shot was blocked by Adam Federici, and Lee Evans, who started the first-time passing move, half volleyed the follow-up inches over from the edge of the box.

That was as good as it got for Wolves in probably their worst 45 minutes of the season. They just seemed very lacklustre and couldn't get going, especially after trailing in the 18th minute.

The warning bells were sounded five minutes earlier when former Albion striker Simon Cox sent a twisting header just wide from a Jordan Obita free kick.

A minute later, Reading advanced menacingly again and Cox slipped in the unmarked Glenn Murray to his right and the on-loan Crystal Palace striker could only blaze high and wide from a slight angle.

Then came the goal Reading had been threatening, when Wolves were too slow to close down a short corner worked.

Obita and play-maker Oliver Norwood, who crossed to the near post, where Michael Hector showed strength to hold off fellow centre-back Richard Stearman far too easily to bullet a header in at Carl Ikeme's near post.

It was only the fourth goal Wolves had conceded all season, but the way they were playing, it was a surprise they hadn't leaked more.

Murray punished more slack marking in the 24th minute to rattle the advertising boards behind Ikeme's goal when he was a fraction wide from 25 yards.

And with the spaces opening up worryingly again for Wolves, Hope Akpan drilled wide from a good position in the box heavily populated by Reading players after a break down the left.

Murray might not have scored during the first period but in his strength, movement and danger, he showed what Wolves were missing in the absence of Nouha Dicko.

Wolves showed they can provide the right service towards the end of the half, when James Henry whipped in a couple of dangerous centres from the right.

But Clarke just couldn't quite get there to apply the finish. If Wolves lacked the spark in the first half, they certainly burst into life at the start of the second.

Three goals in five breathless minutes followed as the vistors awoke with a start and launched themselves fully into this game.

First Oliver Norwood was inches away with a swerving effort from long range after an uncharacteristically poor pass from Kevin McDonald.

But then came the Wolves comeback. Bakary Sako made all the running down the left before cutting inside and crossing from the byeline.

And although Clarke couldn't get there, former Reading wide man Henry made no mistake, firing high into the roof of the net from six yards out for the 50th-minute equaliser and his first goal of the season.

Four minutes later, Wolves were ahead when Evans, who was always looking to push on in the 'No 10' role.

He punished an awful attempted clearance by Obika when he controlled the ball before netting his first of the campaign with a neat left-footed volley.

Matt Doherty had been at the heart of a full throttle Wolves move in a performance which was fast making a mockery of their first-half display.

But in a breathless spell the celebrations were still going on when Reading cut them short by hauling themselves level.

Wolves always seemed a man short defensively as Reading swept play upfield and Danny Batth was left with the odd man as the final pass found Jake Taylor to sweep home under Ikeme.

Jackett talks continually about the importance and timing of substitutions.

And at a time when the game had hit a lull and his own side were struggling for energy and ideas, the head coach made three that breathed fresh life into Wolves.

Dave Edwards, who replaced Saville in the 77th minute, couldn't have done much more when he glanced home Sako's corner, replays showing the ball crossed the line by about a foot before it was cleared.

But the action wasn't over and when Murray latched onto a loose ball some 25 yards out, he launched a glorious shot that took a deflection before finding the top corner of the net, giving Ikeme no chance.

It was little more than Reading deserved after dominating the first half, and although they must have dared to dream of victory, Wolves could be happy with a point.